Expert says health care ruling could impact rural Iowans most

The strike against a key provision in the Obama Health Care law as being unconstitutional is being seen as a particular blow to people in rural, farm states like Iowa. A federal judge in Virginia ruled Monday Congress overstepped its authority when it mandated citizens be required to buy health insurance. Jon Bailey, spokesman for the Center for Rural Affairs, says the ruling is just one part of a long debate.

“There’ve been two other cases decided by courts at the exact same level that have ruled the individual mandate constitutional,” Bailey says. “There have been about 12 other cases that have been dismissed. The litigation score card is in favor of the Affordable Care Act.” Bailey says the issue will likely reach the nation’s highest court and the legislation could change even before it gets that far.

“All of these cases are eventually going to find their way to the U.S. Supreme Court and they’re going to have to rule on something,” Bailey says. “I think it’s important to remember this individual mandate, the issue that was ruled on by the court in Viriginia, doesn’t even take effect until 2014 so there’s probably going to be some effort in Congress to revisit that issue.”

Bailey says most people in rural America need the Obama health care plan because it will result in more affordability and accessibility for farmers and ranchers and rural communities. The Center for Rural Affairs is based in Lyons, Nebraska.